Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Do Tell: What are you reading?

Just a couple of nights ago, I finished reading Bethenny Frankel’s A Place of Yes, which I really enjoyed and found to be very inspiring and powerful. Before that, I read Tina Fey’s Bossypants, which is now a favorite of mine. Not only is it absolutely hilarious, it is also quite inspiring. Judging by my latest book selections, I guess you could say that I have had my confidence shaken a bit and was looking for some motivating words to help me get back on track. I would recommend these books to anyone. The first two chapters in Bethenny’s book were a bit challenging to get through. They mainly focus on her difficult childhood and relationship with her parents. While I wasn’t able to relate to that part of the book as much as I was to the rest of it, I truly commend her for being courageous enough to really put it all out there. Tina Fey’s book has become an instant classic for women. She is so relatable and like Frankel, she really puts it all out there, but in a less intense, funnier way. There were nights when I was reading Bossypants that I would laugh so hard that my husband would wake up.

I enjoyed both of these books tremendously and am looking for my next read. What have you read lately that you would recommend? I’m in the mood for a novel, but non-fiction is great, too. I always love hearing your recommendations and have actually read several of the books you have suggested. Thank you!

Hi Paloma! I just finished my latest read and am on the search for another one as well, so I was so pleased to see your blog today. My favorite books I have read lately are the Hunger Games series, which I wrote about here: http://mainstreetchic.blogspot.com/2011/02/book-review-hunger-games.html. It sounds sci-fi, but I promise the series is sooooo good! All of Elin Hilderbrand's books are great as well. Happy Reading! xo

I don't have any recommendations because I am in the process of reading both of those books! It is rare that I laugh (like a for real laugh) when I am reading books. But Tina's book has also made me go there a few times. Loving it.

I recently read Entre Nous: A Woman's Guide to Finding her Inner French Girl. Very light and interesting read. Less of a guide and more of a juxtaposition of French women and Americans, in general. Definitely recommend!

I was just going to start reading both of these as well. I heard such great things. Of all the people to become successful, to me, both of those women TOTALLY deserve it. Bethenny is an inspiration to never stop believing you have something to offer the world!

I'm reading Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil again, for a book club. Highly recommend it and another of Berendt's books, The City of Fallen Angels about Venice, Italy. Both are non-fiction but read like fiction. He draws you in and you start to feel like you live in these places too. You can't believe that some of these people and their stories are real!

I want to read both of those - heard Bossypants was awesome! I'm reading The Guernsey Literary and Sweet Potato Peel Society and really enjoying it. I also just read a book called MudBound and it was good.

The Island by Victoria Hislop (LOVED this book) Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell (amazing true story). Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet. Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. The Sweetness at the Bottom of The Pie by Alan Bradley, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (These were all wonderful.) I'm just starting Matched by Ally Condie.

Remember Me by Sophie Kinsella - from Publishers Weekly, "Shopaholicpowerhouse Kinsella delights again with her latest, a winning if unoriginal tale of amnesia striking an ambitious shrew and changing her life for the better. After taking a nasty bump on the head, Lexi Smart awakens in a hospital convinced that it's 2004 and that she's just missed her father's funeral. It's actually three years later, and she no longer has crooked teeth, frizzy hair and a loser boyfriend. Initially wowed by what she's become—a gorgeous, cut-throat businesswoman—Lexi soon finds herself attempting to figure out how it happened."

So far it's really light and very funny. Exactly what I need right now! Plus it's got the are-you-sure-you-really-want-what-you-wish-for element. Great way to stay content;)

Also, if you haven't read Kathryn Stockett's "The Help," do so! I loved the book and am so looking forward to the movie.

I have a long list to read/finish reading... But I just haven't had the time to do it. Among them:The Einstein GenerationThe Devil wears PradaThe true story of the Bilderberg ClubTalking with Design StudentsNew YorkEtc...

Thanks for the reviews. Excited to get my hands on Bossypants! If you haven't read them already I'd highly recommend The Power of Now and A New Earth by spiritual teacher Eckhart Tolle. His books are unbelievely powerful and life changing. I turn to them whenever I need to put my ego in check and find peace. Let me know if you end up reading 'em! :)

I read Bethenny's book a few weeks ago and totally agree about the first few chapters but I loved the book after that! Such great advice! I wanted to highlight every line. I am in the middle of Tina Fey's book and I love it as well. Looking for the next book just like you!

I've been on a bit of a food book binge, lately. I recently read Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food, which was eye-opening, to say the least.Now, I'm reading The Last Chinese Chef - which is a novel. There's several plots going on, but the seam that binds it all is the history of Chinese cuisine. So far, so good!

Just finished "An Object of Beauty" by Steve Martin - it was wonderful! Lately, I've also enjoyed "Major Pettigrew's Last Stand" and "The Sandalwood Tree". For fun and easy historical fiction/romance I recommend Lauren Willig and the Pink Carnation Series.

My favorite read of the year was "Cutting For Stone" by Abraham Verghese (sp). It's literary fiction, a beautiful epic story about twins born to a nun and the monastery doctor she was in love with. It's not light reading, but it's not heavy either -- it's just emotionally substantive while simultaneously being a super easy read. I couldn't put it down.

I too love "Bossypants" and Tina Fey is my new feminist hero. She's so funny and off-handedly feminist, which is a much better approach, I think, than the heavy handed rant approach. I just laughed and recognized so many truths while I was at it!

I just finished reading The Lost Girls for the second time! It is a great story about three women in their late twenties who quit their dream jobs to travel for a year. I wrote about the book on my blog: http://lindseychandler.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/living-like-the-lost-girls/

I hightly recommend "The Gilead" by Marilynne Robinson. It is a book you will want to retain on your bookshelf. I read it and when I finished reading it, I immediately went back to page 1 and re-read it. It will stay with you and I will not give away any more of it.I believe it won the Pulitzer prize in 2005.Helentilstonpainter.blogspot.com